US20020135121A1 - Output bin for printing devices - Google Patents
Output bin for printing devices Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20020135121A1 US20020135121A1 US09/816,819 US81681901A US2002135121A1 US 20020135121 A1 US20020135121 A1 US 20020135121A1 US 81681901 A US81681901 A US 81681901A US 2002135121 A1 US2002135121 A1 US 2002135121A1
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- United States
- Prior art keywords
- bin
- sheet
- floor
- panel
- sheets
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- Granted
Links
- 230000005484 gravity Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 13
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 claims description 4
- 230000000284 resting effect Effects 0.000 claims 1
- 230000007423 decrease Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000009977 dual effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000003384 imaging method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000003825 pressing Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000004080 punching Methods 0.000 description 1
Images
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
- B65H31/00—Pile receivers
- B65H31/02—Pile receivers with stationary end support against which pile accumulates
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
- B65H31/00—Pile receivers
- B65H31/34—Apparatus for squaring-up piled articles
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
- B65H2301/00—Handling processes for sheets or webs
- B65H2301/40—Type of handling process
- B65H2301/42—Piling, depiling, handling piles
- B65H2301/421—Forming a pile
- B65H2301/4214—Forming a pile of articles on edge
- B65H2301/42146—Forming a pile of articles on edge by introducing articles from above
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
- B65H2801/00—Application field
- B65H2801/24—Post -processing devices
- B65H2801/27—Devices located downstream of office-type machines
Definitions
- the invention relates to an output bin for printers, copiers, and other printing devices that output sheet media. More particularly, the invention relates to a bin for capturing and aligning, in a stack, sheet media dispensed from a printing device.
- sheets are dispensed one after the other forming stacks in one or more bins or trays located within or near the device.
- the edges and corners of the sheets in the stack must be aligned.
- the support surface 10 of some bins 12 is sloped allowing each sheet 14 to slide into place over the top of a sheet 14 previously dispensed into the bin 12 forming a stack 16 .
- Such bins 12 include a floor or stop 18 located near the base of the sloped support surface 10 .
- the present invention is directed to an output bin that uses gravity to urge the sheets into alignment along two edges and thereby help form a fully aligned stack.
- the bin includes a first panel facing each sheet as the sheet is output from the printing device, the first panel having a top, a bottom and a side; a second panel disposed along the bottom of the first panel, the second panel tipped relative to a leading edge that leads each sheet out of the printing device; and a third panel disposed along the side of the first panel.
- Each sheet dispensed into the output bin slides over the first panel until a leading edge of the sheet contacts an upper portion of the second tipped panel. The sheet then tips in the direction of the third panel and rests with the leading edge supported by the second panel and a side edge supported by the third panel.
- FIG. 1 is a side plan view of a conventional output bin.
- FIG. 2 is a section view taken along the line 2 - 2 in FIG. 1 showing misaligned side edges of sheets collected in the bin.
- FIG. 3 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the invented sheet media bin coupled to the rear output of a printer.
- FIGS. 4 - 7 are elevation side views of one embodiment of the invented sheet media alignment bin, showing, in sequence, a sheet entering the bin, falling to the bin's floor and tipping to one side against the stop.
- FIGS. 8 - 9 are elevation side views of one embodiment of the invented sheet media alignment bin incorporating spaced apart support and guide panels.
- FIG. 10 is an elevation side view of one embodiment of the invented sheet media alignment bin that includes a feeder.
- FIG. 11 is an elevation side view of one embodiment in which a hinged guide cover is used to allow easy access to the printed stack, and the tipped floor pivots allowing the aligned sheets to freely slide out of the bin.
- FIG. 12 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the invented sheet media bin coupled to the rear output of a printer in which the tip floor and stop panels are truncated to form an open corner.
- FIG. 13 is an elevation side view of one embodiment in which each sheet falls freely on to the stack.
- FIG. 14 is a partial cut-away view of the bin of FIG. 13 with the stop removed to view the inside of the bin.
- FIG. 15 is a schematic side plan view of one embodiment of the invented bin incorporating a finisher.
- the invented output device is designed for use with or as an integrated part of any printer, copier, or other printing device in which it may be desirable to fully align sheets in an output stack.
- the following description and the drawings illustrate only a few exemplary embodiments of the invention. Other embodiments, forms, and details may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, which is expressed in the claims that follow this description.
- FIGS. 3 - 7 illustrate one embodiment of the invented alignment bin 30 situated near output 32 of printer 34 .
- Bin 30 includes an opening 36 through which sheets enter the bin, a tipped floor 38 , and a stop 40 .
- Tipped floor 38 has a upper portion 42 located a first distance D 1 from opening 36 and a lower portion 44 located a second greater distance D 2 from opening 36 .
- Second distance D 2 is selected to create a tip angle ⁇ sufficient to allow sheet 46 to tip easily in the direction of stop 40 under the force of gravity.
- tip angle ⁇ is big enough to make floor 38 steep enough to allow each sheet to slide into stop 40 if necessary to account for any misalignment as the sheet drops into the corner of bin 30 .
- opening 36 includes guide 45 which functions to direct each sheet dispensed from printer 34 towards floor 38 .
- guide 45 directs leading edge 48 of sheet 46 toward tipped floor 38 .
- sheet 46 falls into bin 30 , a portion of leading edge 48 makes contact with upper portion 42 of tipped floor 38 . Under the force of gravity, sheet 46 tips in the direction of lower portion 44 and stop 40 until its side edge 50 rests against stop 40 .
- Sheet 46 is wedged in corner 47 with side edge 50 supported by stop 40 and leading edge 48 supported by tipped floor 38 .
- stop 40 and lower portion 44 of tipped floor 38 occupy perpendicular planes. This alignment allows sheet 46 to fit more securely within bin 30 .
- a stack is formed as additional sheets are dispensed into bin 30 . Each additional sheet slides over sheets previously dispensed into bin 30 until that sheet is also supported by tipped floor 38 and stop 40 .
- upper portion 42 of floor 38 includes a flat segment 43 .
- Flat segment 43 increases the landing area for sheet leading edge 48 to reduce the risk of damage to the sheet as it falls against floor 38 .
- bin 30 also includes spaced apart panels 52 and 54 . Occupying parallel planes, inside support panel 52 and outside guide panel 54 define channel 56 in which media sheets are contained. The width W of channel 56 depends upon the number of sheets 46 to be held in bin 34 at one time.
- Each panel 52 and 54 includes opposing first and second sections 58 , 60 , 62 , and 64 .
- First sections 58 and 62 define opening 36 through which sheets are received from printer 34 into channel 56 with first section 62 incorporating guide 45 .
- Tipped floor 38 and stop 40 are located between second sections 60 and 64 and, as illustrated, may physically connect second sections 60 and 64 .
- Panels 52 and 54 extend down and outward from printer 34 at an angle ⁇ .
- This orientation allows panel 52 to support, at least indirectly, a face of each sheet 46 as the edges of the sheet are held by tipped floor 38 and stop 40 .
- This added support from panel 52 helps prevent sheet 46 from buckling under the force of gravity.
- support panel 52 lies in a plane that is perpendicular to the plane occupied by stop 40 as well as the plan occupied by lower portion 44 of tipped floor 38 .
- ⁇ will usually be quite small to minimize friction between the sheets, this angle may be varied as necessary or desirable in conjunction with floor slant angle ⁇ and other structural features of bin 30 to optimize the dual edge alignment of each sheet in the stack.
- printer 34 dispenses sheet 46 into opening 36 of bin 30 .
- sheet 46 passes over stack 68 of sheets previously dispensed into bin 34 .
- Sheet 46 slides down over the surface of stack 68 until it hits tipped floor 38 .
- Sheet 46 then tips as illustrated in FIGS. 6 - 7 and ultimately rests against stop 40 in alignment with the other sheets in stack 68 .
- bin 30 includes a feeder 70 positioned near opening 36 to receive each sheet from printer 34 .
- Feeder 70 may be used to provide an additional mechanical force, for example, if friction between sheet 46 and panel 54 and between sheet 46 and stack 68 impedes the ability of printer 34 to dispense sheet 46 fully into bin 30 .
- feeder 70 may also be required if printer 34 dispenses sheets 46 faster than those sheets can slide into place in bin 30 under the force of gravity. Feeder 70 , then, increases the rate at which each sheet is dispensed fully into bin 30 preventing input 36 from clogging.
- Feeder 70 receives each sheet 46 output from printer 34 urging the sheet over stack 68 allowing sheet 46 to fall into alignment with stack 68 as described above.
- feeder 70 is a paddle wheel comprised of a series of flexible fingers 72 extending radially outward at selected locations around the outer surface of shaft 74 .
- motor 76 rotates shaft 74
- flexible fingers 72 sequentially contact sheet 46 pressing it against guide panel 54 urging the sheet into bin 30 .
- FIG. 10 illustrates only one possible version of feeder 70 .
- feeder 70 could include a plurality of paddle wheels.
- feeder 70 can be most any mechanical device capable of urging sheets in the direction of tipped floor 38 .
- shaft 74 of feeder 70 can be oriented such that when rotated, flexible fingers 72 urge each sheet 46 directly into corner 47 (shown in FIGS. 3 - 7 ) aligning leading edge 48 with tipped floor 38 and side edge 50 with stop 40 . Proper orientation of shafts 74 , then, decreases the bin's reliance on gravity to align sheets 46 .
- panel 54 includes hinged joint 78 between sections 62 and 64 .
- Joint 78 allows first section 62 of panel 54 to pivot between an open and closed position. In its closed position, first section 62 functions as guide 36 . When placed in the open position, aligned stack 68 can be easily removed from bin 30 .
- tipped floor 38 may be pivotable between open and closed positions about hinge 80 . In its closed position, it serves to support sheets 46 as previously described. In its open position, tipped floor 38 allows sheets 46 to slide out of bin 30 under the force of gravity into a stacker or other sorting device.
- FIGS. 12 and 13- 14 Alternative embodiments are shown in FIGS. 12 and 13- 14 to further illustrate the flexibility of the basic bin design.
- floor 38 and stop 40 are truncated to form an open corner.
- outside panel 54 does not impede or guide the direction of sheets 46 .
- Bin 30 is configured such that sheet 46 falls unhindered onto the stack.
- bin 30 includes finisher 82 .
- Finisher 82 is configured to perform finishing operations such as binding, stapling, or punching stack 68 aligned and held within bin 30 .
- U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/320,620 filed on May 26, 1999 entitled “Binding Sheet Media Using Imaging Material” and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/482,124 filed Jan. 11, 2000 entitled “Apparatus and Method for Binding Sheet Media” each disclose methods and devices for binding a stack of sheets. Those two applications are hereby incorporated by reference. The methods and devices taught in those applications could be incorporated into bin 30 to provide the ability to bind together leading edges 48 of sheets 46 in aligned stack 68 within bin 30 .
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- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Pile Receivers (AREA)
Abstract
An output bin that uses gravity to urge the sheets into alignment along two edges and thereby help form a fully aligned stack. In one embodiment, the bin includes a first panel facing each sheet as the sheet is output from the printing device, the first panel having a top, a bottom and a side; a second panel disposed along the bottom of the first panel, the second panel tipped relative to a leading edge that leads each sheet out of the printing device; and a third panel disposed along the side of the first panel. Each sheet dispensed into the output bin slides over the first panel until a leading edge of the sheet contacts an upper portion of the second tipped panel. The sheet then tips in the direction of the third panel and rests with the leading edge supported by the second panel and a side edge supported by the third panel.
Description
- The invention relates to an output bin for printers, copiers, and other printing devices that output sheet media. More particularly, the invention relates to a bin for capturing and aligning, in a stack, sheet media dispensed from a printing device.
- In conventional printing devices such as laser and ink printers, copiers, and facsimile machines, sheets are dispensed one after the other forming stacks in one or more bins or trays located within or near the device. In many instances it is desirable to staple, bind, punch, or cut the stack of sheets collected in a bin. Before such finishing operations can be performed, the edges and corners of the sheets in the stack must be aligned. Referring to FIG. 1, the
support surface 10 of somebins 12 is sloped allowing eachsheet 14 to slide into place over the top of asheet 14 previously dispensed into thebin 12 forming astack 16.Such bins 12 include a floor orstop 18 located near the base of thesloped support surface 10. Gravity, forcing eachsheet 14 down thesloped surface 10, aligns the bottom edge of eachsheet 14 in thestack 16 against thestop 18. As can be seen in FIG. 2, however, this scheme often fails to align theside edge 20 of thesheets 14 in thestack 16, so additional adjustments are needed before a finishing operation can be performed. More sophisticated bins incorporate mechanical devices for fully aligning the sheets in a stack. However, these mechanical solutions can significantly increase the cost of a printing device. What is needed is a relatively inexpensive bin capable of forming a fully aligned stack of sheets without slowing the output speed of the printing device. - Accordingly, the present invention is directed to an output bin that uses gravity to urge the sheets into alignment along two edges and thereby help form a fully aligned stack. In one embodiment, the bin includes a first panel facing each sheet as the sheet is output from the printing device, the first panel having a top, a bottom and a side; a second panel disposed along the bottom of the first panel, the second panel tipped relative to a leading edge that leads each sheet out of the printing device; and a third panel disposed along the side of the first panel. Each sheet dispensed into the output bin slides over the first panel until a leading edge of the sheet contacts an upper portion of the second tipped panel. The sheet then tips in the direction of the third panel and rests with the leading edge supported by the second panel and a side edge supported by the third panel.
- FIG. 1 is a side plan view of a conventional output bin.
- FIG. 2 is a section view taken along the line2-2 in FIG. 1 showing misaligned side edges of sheets collected in the bin.
- FIG. 3 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the invented sheet media bin coupled to the rear output of a printer.
- FIGS.4-7 are elevation side views of one embodiment of the invented sheet media alignment bin, showing, in sequence, a sheet entering the bin, falling to the bin's floor and tipping to one side against the stop.
- FIGS.8-9 are elevation side views of one embodiment of the invented sheet media alignment bin incorporating spaced apart support and guide panels.
- FIG. 10 is an elevation side view of one embodiment of the invented sheet media alignment bin that includes a feeder.
- FIG. 11 is an elevation side view of one embodiment in which a hinged guide cover is used to allow easy access to the printed stack, and the tipped floor pivots allowing the aligned sheets to freely slide out of the bin.
- FIG. 12 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the invented sheet media bin coupled to the rear output of a printer in which the tip floor and stop panels are truncated to form an open corner.
- FIG. 13 is an elevation side view of one embodiment in which each sheet falls freely on to the stack.
- FIG. 14 is a partial cut-away view of the bin of FIG. 13 with the stop removed to view the inside of the bin.
- FIG. 15 is a schematic side plan view of one embodiment of the invented bin incorporating a finisher.
- The invented output device is designed for use with or as an integrated part of any printer, copier, or other printing device in which it may be desirable to fully align sheets in an output stack. The following description and the drawings illustrate only a few exemplary embodiments of the invention. Other embodiments, forms, and details may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, which is expressed in the claims that follow this description.
- FIGS.3-7 illustrate one embodiment of the
invented alignment bin 30 situated nearoutput 32 ofprinter 34.Bin 30 includes anopening 36 through which sheets enter the bin, a tippedfloor 38, and astop 40. Tippedfloor 38 has aupper portion 42 located a first distance D1 from opening 36 and alower portion 44 located a second greater distance D2 from opening 36. Second distance D2 is selected to create a tip angle θ sufficient to allowsheet 46 to tip easily in the direction ofstop 40 under the force of gravity. Preferably, tip angle θ is big enough to makefloor 38 steep enough to allow each sheet to slide intostop 40 if necessary to account for any misalignment as the sheet drops into the corner ofbin 30. In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 3-7, opening 36 includesguide 45 which functions to direct each sheet dispensed fromprinter 34 towardsfloor 38. Referring sequentially to FIGS. 4-7, asprinter 34dispenses sheet 46 through rear output 32 (shown in FIG. 3),guide 45directs leading edge 48 ofsheet 46 toward tippedfloor 38. Assheet 46 falls intobin 30, a portion of leadingedge 48 makes contact withupper portion 42 of tippedfloor 38. Under the force of gravity,sheet 46 tips in the direction oflower portion 44 and stop 40 until itsside edge 50 rests againststop 40.Sheet 46 is wedged incorner 47 withside edge 50 supported bystop 40 and leadingedge 48 supported by tippedfloor 38. Preferably, stop 40 andlower portion 44 of tippedfloor 38 occupy perpendicular planes. This alignment allowssheet 46 to fit more securely withinbin 30. A stack is formed as additional sheets are dispensed intobin 30. Each additional sheet slides over sheets previously dispensed intobin 30 until that sheet is also supported by tippedfloor 38 and stop 40. - In the embodiment shown in FIGS.3-7,
upper portion 42 offloor 38 includes a flat segment 43. Flat segment 43 increases the landing area forsheet leading edge 48 to reduce the risk of damage to the sheet as it falls againstfloor 38. - In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 8 and 9,
bin 30 also includes spaced apartpanels support panel 52 andoutside guide panel 54 definechannel 56 in which media sheets are contained. The width W ofchannel 56 depends upon the number ofsheets 46 to be held inbin 34 at one time. Eachpanel second sections First sections printer 34 intochannel 56 withfirst section 62 incorporatingguide 45. Tippedfloor 38 andstop 40 are located betweensecond sections second sections Panels printer 34 at an angle φ. This orientation allowspanel 52 to support, at least indirectly, a face of eachsheet 46 as the edges of the sheet are held by tippedfloor 38 and stop 40. This added support frompanel 52 helps preventsheet 46 from buckling under the force of gravity. Preferably,support panel 52 lies in a plane that is perpendicular to the plane occupied bystop 40 as well as the plan occupied bylower portion 44 of tippedfloor 38. Although it is expected that φ will usually be quite small to minimize friction between the sheets, this angle may be varied as necessary or desirable in conjunction with floor slant angle θ and other structural features ofbin 30 to optimize the dual edge alignment of each sheet in the stack. - As illustrated in FIG. 9,
printer 34dispenses sheet 46 into opening 36 ofbin 30. Directed byguide 45,sheet 46 passes overstack 68 of sheets previously dispensed intobin 34.Sheet 46 slides down over the surface ofstack 68 until it hits tippedfloor 38.Sheet 46 then tips as illustrated in FIGS. 6-7 and ultimately rests againststop 40 in alignment with the other sheets instack 68. - In the embodiment shown in FIG. 10,
bin 30 includes afeeder 70 positioned near opening 36 to receive each sheet fromprinter 34.Feeder 70 may be used to provide an additional mechanical force, for example, if friction betweensheet 46 andpanel 54 and betweensheet 46 andstack 68 impedes the ability ofprinter 34 to dispensesheet 46 fully intobin 30. In some situations,feeder 70 may also be required ifprinter 34 dispensessheets 46 faster than those sheets can slide into place inbin 30 under the force of gravity.Feeder 70, then, increases the rate at which each sheet is dispensed fully intobin 30 preventinginput 36 from clogging. -
Feeder 70 receives eachsheet 46 output fromprinter 34 urging the sheet overstack 68 allowingsheet 46 to fall into alignment withstack 68 as described above. As illustrated,feeder 70 is a paddle wheel comprised of a series offlexible fingers 72 extending radially outward at selected locations around the outer surface of shaft 74. As motor 76 rotates shaft 74,flexible fingers 72 sequentiallycontact sheet 46 pressing it againstguide panel 54 urging the sheet intobin 30. As eachfinger 72contacts sheet 46, that finger conforms to the inside surface ofpanel 54 providing the friction necessary to urgesheet 46. FIG. 10 illustrates only one possible version offeeder 70. To increase thefriction urging sheet 46,feeder 70 could include a plurality of paddle wheels. Alternatively,feeder 70 can be most any mechanical device capable of urging sheets in the direction of tippedfloor 38. - It is envisioned that under certain conditions friction between
sheet 46 andpanel 54 and betweensheet 46 and stack 68 may impedesheet 46 from sliding into alignment withinbin 30 under the force of gravity. In such cases, shaft 74 offeeder 70 can be oriented such that when rotated,flexible fingers 72 urge eachsheet 46 directly into corner 47 (shown in FIGS. 3-7) aligning leadingedge 48 with tippedfloor 38 andside edge 50 withstop 40. Proper orientation of shafts 74, then, decreases the bin's reliance on gravity to alignsheets 46. - In the embodiment shown in FIG. 11,
panel 54 includes hinged joint 78 betweensections first section 62 ofpanel 54 to pivot between an open and closed position. In its closed position,first section 62 functions asguide 36. When placed in the open position, alignedstack 68 can be easily removed frombin 30. Additionally, tippedfloor 38 may be pivotable between open and closed positions abouthinge 80. In its closed position, it serves to supportsheets 46 as previously described. In its open position, tippedfloor 38 allowssheets 46 to slide out ofbin 30 under the force of gravity into a stacker or other sorting device. - Alternative embodiments are shown in FIGS. 12 and 13-14 to further illustrate the flexibility of the basic bin design. In the embodiment of FIG. 12,
floor 38 and stop 40 are truncated to form an open corner. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 13 and 14,outside panel 54 does not impede or guide the direction ofsheets 46.Bin 30 is configured such thatsheet 46 falls unhindered onto the stack. - While the previous figures illustrate
sheets 46 being dispensed intobin 30 in portrait format—that is with leadingedge 48 being the narrower edge ofsheet 46—sheet 46 can just as easily be dispensed in landscape format with leadingedge 48 being the wider edge ofsheet 46. - In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 15,
bin 30 includesfinisher 82.Finisher 82 is configured to perform finishing operations such as binding, stapling, or punchingstack 68 aligned and held withinbin 30. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/320,620 filed on May 26, 1999 entitled “Binding Sheet Media Using Imaging Material” and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/482,124 filed Jan. 11, 2000 entitled “Apparatus and Method for Binding Sheet Media” each disclose methods and devices for binding a stack of sheets. Those two applications are hereby incorporated by reference. The methods and devices taught in those applications could be incorporated intobin 30 to provide the ability to bind together leadingedges 48 ofsheets 46 in alignedstack 68 withinbin 30.
Claims (20)
1. An output bin for a printing device, comprising a structure for receiving and holding sheets output by the printing device, the structure configured to urge each sheet under the influence of gravity or a mechanical force into alignment along two edges.
2. The bin of claim 1 , wherein the structure comprises:
a first panel facing each sheet as the sheet is output from the printing device, the first panel having a top, a bottom and a side;
a second panel disposed along the bottom of the first panel, the second panel tipped relative to a leading edge that leads each sheet out of the printing device; and
a third panel disposed along the side of the first panel.
3. A bin for receiving sheets output by a printing device, each sheet having a leading edge that leads the sheet out of the printing device and a side edge perpendicular to the leading edge, the output bin comprising:
a tipped floor having an upper portion and a lower portion; and
a stop disposed relative to floor such that, as the leading edge of each sheet contacts the upper portion of the floor and tips down to the lower portion of the floor, the side edge comes to rest against the stop.
4. The bin of claim 3 , wherein the stop and the lower portion of the tipped floor lie in perpendicular planes.
5. The bin of claim 3 , further comprising a support panel disposed adjacent to the tipped floor and the stop such that, as the leading edge of each sheet contacts the upper portion of the floor and tips down to the lower portion of the floor, the sheet remains supported, at least indirectly, by the support panel.
6. The bin of claim 5 , wherein the support panel occupies a plane perpendicular to the planes occupied by the stop and the lower portion of the floor.
7. The bin of claim 3 , further comprising a guide operative to direct the sheets dispensed from the printing device in the direction of the tipped floor.
8. The bin of claim 3 , further comprising a finisher operative to perform finishing operations on sheets aligned in the bin.
9. The bin of claim 8 , wherein the finishing operation includes binding together the leading edges of the sheets aligned in the bin.
10. A bin for aligning sheets dispensed from a printing device, the bin comprising:
spaced apart first and second panels defining a channel in which media sheets are contained, each panel having opposing first and second portions, the first portions defining an input for receiving sheets;
a tipped floor located between the second portions of the first and second panels, the tipped floor having a first portion located a first distance from the input and a second portion located a second distance, greater than the first distance, from the input; and
a stop located adjacent to the second portion of the tipped floor; wherein as a leading edge of each sheet is received through the input, each sheet passes through the channel until its leading edge makes contact with the first portion of the tipped floor, the sheet then tips in the directions of the second portion of the tipped floor with at least a portion of a side edge of the sheet ultimately resting against the stop.
11. The bin of claim 10 , wherein the input is located adjacent to an output of the printing device and the panels extend down and away from the output at a selected angle.
12. The bin of claim 10 , wherein the panels occupy parallel planes and the stop and second portion of the tipped floor occupy planes that are perpendicular to one another and to the parallel planes.
13. The bin of claim 10 , wherein the first portion of at least one panel includes a guide operative to direct sheets from the output of the printing device toward the tipped floor.
14. The bin of claim 10 further comprising a feeder operative to urge the sheets in the direction of the tipped floor as to align the leading edge with the tipped floor and the side edge with the stop.
15. The bin of claim 14 , wherein the feeder comprises a plurality of flexible fingers extending radially outward and selectively located around the circumference of a rotating shaft, the fingers being operative to sequentially contacting and urge each sheet as the shaft rotates.
16. The bin of claim 10 , wherein at least one panel includes a joint allowing the first portion of that panel to be pivoted between an open position and a closed position, the open position allowing access and removal of sheets contained in the channel.
17. The bin of claim 10 , wherein the tipped floor is pivotable between an open position and a closed position, the closed position allowing the tipped floor to support the sheets collected in the bin and the open position allowing to tipped sheets collected in the bin to slide out under the force of gravity.
18. The bin of claim 10 , further comprising a finisher operative to perform finishing operations on sheets aligned in the bin.
19. The bin of claim 18 , wherein the finishing operation includes binding together the leading edges of the sheets aligned in the bin.
20. A method for stacking sheets output by a printing device, comprising using gravity to urge the sheets into alignment along two edges as the sheets are output from the printing device into an output bin.
Priority Applications (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
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US09/816,819 US6467769B2 (en) | 2001-03-22 | 2001-03-22 | Output bin for printing devices |
GB0205798A GB2375528B (en) | 2001-03-22 | 2002-03-12 | Output bin for printing devices |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
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US09/816,819 US6467769B2 (en) | 2001-03-22 | 2001-03-22 | Output bin for printing devices |
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US20020135121A1 true US20020135121A1 (en) | 2002-09-26 |
US6467769B2 US6467769B2 (en) | 2002-10-22 |
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US09/816,819 Expired - Fee Related US6467769B2 (en) | 2001-03-22 | 2001-03-22 | Output bin for printing devices |
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US (1) | US6467769B2 (en) |
GB (1) | GB2375528B (en) |
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US9050846B2 (en) | 2013-03-28 | 2015-06-09 | Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. | Finisher output destinations |
CN109689384A (en) * | 2016-09-12 | 2019-04-26 | 惠普发展公司,有限责任合伙企业 | Device with light source |
CN112079172A (en) * | 2020-08-28 | 2020-12-15 | 远光软件股份有限公司 | Paper processing assembly and printing equipment |
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US10435265B2 (en) | 2015-12-09 | 2019-10-08 | Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. | Finisher output bin assembly |
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DE3520246A1 (en) * | 1985-06-05 | 1986-12-11 | Werner 8000 München Fuchs | STORAGE DEVICE FOR THE STALKED LAYING OF LEAFS |
JPS62201769A (en) * | 1985-11-19 | 1987-09-05 | Olympus Optical Co Ltd | Sheet sorting device |
US5058878A (en) * | 1989-12-14 | 1991-10-22 | Aluminum Company Of America | Cassette structure |
-
2001
- 2001-03-22 US US09/816,819 patent/US6467769B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
-
2002
- 2002-03-12 GB GB0205798A patent/GB2375528B/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
Cited By (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20080230983A1 (en) * | 2005-11-22 | 2008-09-25 | Bluethgen Soenke C | Device and Tray For Depositing Sheets |
WO2007059811A3 (en) * | 2005-11-22 | 2010-05-14 | Eastman Kodak Company | Device and tray for depositing sheets |
US7850167B2 (en) | 2005-11-22 | 2010-12-14 | Eastman Kodak Company | Device and tray for depositing sheets |
US9050846B2 (en) | 2013-03-28 | 2015-06-09 | Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. | Finisher output destinations |
CN109689384A (en) * | 2016-09-12 | 2019-04-26 | 惠普发展公司,有限责任合伙企业 | Device with light source |
CN112079172A (en) * | 2020-08-28 | 2020-12-15 | 远光软件股份有限公司 | Paper processing assembly and printing equipment |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
GB2375528A (en) | 2002-11-20 |
GB0205798D0 (en) | 2002-04-24 |
GB2375528B (en) | 2004-07-28 |
US6467769B2 (en) | 2002-10-22 |
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